“Your Majesty! You are so strong.”
Jiang Wangnan still felt a natural aversion to being touched by a man he did not love, but with servants bustling in and out, he could not openly voice his protests out loud. He was simply too socially anxious.
Xiao Quanchuan closed his eyes again, his breathing steady, and his grip on Jiang Wangnan did not loosen in the slightest.
Jiang Wangnan burrowed his face into the duvet, feeling somewhat uncomfortable with how tightly he was being held, and wiggled his hips back and forth to adjust his posture.
Suddenly, he accidentally brushed against something, and his mind went completely blank, his inner self turning into a screaming chicken: Ahhh! Could it be? Could it be? This is the legendary!
Holy shit, my goodness.
Did we last night?!
Jiang Wangnan frantically tried to recall the events of the previous evening. He only remembered being greedy for that plate of wine-steamed clams. As he ate, his cheeks grew hot, his head spun, and then, and then he couldn’t remember a single thing.
That wasn’t right. If something had genuinely happened, his body would at least have some record of it. Jiang Wangnan tried performing a few pelvic floor contractions, and there was no tearing sensation whatsoever.
Consider him a gentleman still, at least.
A soft chuckle came from right above him. Xiao Quanchuan pulled the duvet away from his face, looking lazy and relaxed: “Good morning, my beloved consort. You were amazing last night.”
Jiang Wangnan: “???”
At that moment, a figure shifted outside the gauze curtains: “Your Majesty, it is time to wash and change.” It was Sun Nianhai’s voice.
“Understood.”
Xiao Quanchuan pushed back the quilt and sat up. Instantly, three eunuchs crowded around him. One held a golden basin filled with warm water, one handed over a hot towel, and one presented mouthwash.
Jiang Wangnan wrapped himself tightly in the duvet, shivering as he clutched his body: “Last night, that…”
No way! He couldn’t feel a thing down there!
That was his first time, and it absolutely could not vanish without a trace and without him even knowing!
Xiao Quanchuan chuckled: “I am the Son of Heaven. My words carry the weight of nine tripods, and a sovereign never lies. Would I lie to you?”
Put that way, it made a lot of sense.
Jiang Wangnan believed it.
What a truly wretched guy; his first time was not only given to a man he didn’t like, but he had zero participation in it either. He had practically developed psychological trauma.
After the eunuchs finished serving and withdrew, two palace maids stepped forward to assist Xiao Quanchuan in changing into his court attire and putting on his crown.
The State of Zhao revered black, taking dark mysterious tones as supreme. The emperor wore court robes for morning assembly, black on the upper body and scarlet red on the lower, embroidered with patterns of the sun, moon, stars, mountains, and great rivers, looking dignified and grand.
His crown featured twelve strands of jade pearls and was likewise black, pierced through by a jade hairpin that secured it to his hair bun, tied securely beneath his jaw with an expression of refined and imposing majesty.
Standing one meter ninety-five tall with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and muscles bulging everywhere, Xiao Quanchuan radiated peak power and oppression.
Bolstered by the imperial crown and robes, his aura suddenly took on an intensely aloof distance, a posture of looking down upon the entire world with disdain. The mere moment he stood there, anyone would feel their knees turn weak.
The more Jiang Wangnan thought about it, the less sense it made. How could a man this formidable be so weak in bed that he couldn’t even feel a trace of it?
“What? Still pondering what happened last night?” Xiao Quanchuan put on his wrap-around ear ornaments, raised an eyebrow as he looked over, and walked over with steady strides to sit down on the edge of the bed.
Jiang Wangnan’s delicate body gave a start, shrinking back into the corner of the bed like a little kitten as he lowered his head and twisted the edge of the blanket with his fingers: “This concubine wouldn’t dare.”
Xiao Quanchuan let out a soft laugh: “What is there that you wouldn’t dare do?”
The little kitten’s hair was sleek and dark, draped loosely over his shoulders and cascading all the way down to his snow-white waistline. He was biting his lower lip, appearing as though he didn’t quite know how to respond, obedient yet stubbornly proud.
Xiao Quanchuan couldn’t resist reaching out to stroke his head: “Alright, I have to go to court. It’s still early, so you can sleep a bit longer.”
Before leaving, he instructed the others: “Take good care of Noble Consort Jiang.”
Noble Consort Jiang? Who on earth was that?
A brain newly jolted awake in the early morning was bound to be a bit sluggish.
The servants turned in unison to bow toward him, speaking in a single, synchronized voice: “Congratulations, Noble Consort Jiang. Felicitations, Noble Consort Jiang.”
“!!!!!!”
He snapped fully awake as if jolted from a dream. Tears welled up in his eyes; the surprise had arrived so suddenly, but his hard work had finally paid off!
Consider Xiao Quanchuan to have a shred of conscience after all.
“What time is it right now?” After lying back down, Jiang Wangnan tossed and turned restlessly.
A eunuch replied: “Your Grace, it is already the Yin hour.”
“What? The Yin hour? That early?!”
My goodness, waking up to work at three or four in the morning, is being an emperor really this miserable?
“Yes, Your Grace. The Emperor usually wakes up half an hour earlier than today to practice swordsmanship, and morning court begins at the Mao hour,” the eunuch said.
Jiang Wangnan grew somewhat interested, sat up cross-legged, and tilted his head slightly: “And then?”
“The morning court session lasts about an hour. After court ends, the Emperor has his morning meal, then goes to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. The remaining time is spent reading memorials, summoning ministers, studying books, and painting.”
“What time does he go to bed, then?”
“Usually after the Hai hour.”
Oh my god, waking up at 3:30 AM and sleeping at 10:00 PM, leaving a mere five and a half hours of sleep while still managing to spin around like a top without stopping, he truly wasn’t human.
Come to think of it, just who was Xiao Quanchuan?
According to the original novel, although born to the Empress, he had been remarkably dim-witted in his youth and unfavored. Then, at the age of fourteen, he suddenly became enlightened, showing extraordinary natural talent and mastering both civil and military arts.
At the age of eighteen, when the Crown Prince unexpectedly passed away, he brushed aside all dissenting opinions to take his place, becoming the new heir apparent.
His father had been plagued by chronic illness for years, often leaving Xiao Quanchuan to act as regent. His achievements were exceptionally brilliant, shocking the imperial court. For instance, it took him less than two years to resolve the Yellow River flood that had plagued the country for a decade, firmly suppressing the objections of all the officials.
Roughly four years later, at the age of twenty, he ascended the throne as emperor, greeted by the kowtows of ten thousand subjects.
In the five years since he took power, he had lightened corvée labor and taxes, established the imperial guards, safeguarded centralized authority, opened up foreign relations, built city walls, stationed troops among foreign tribes, leveled the State of Yue, and unified the south. His list of battle achievements was immense.
Setting everything else aside, one could say Xiao Quanchuan possessed extraordinary statecraft abilities, standing out as the youngest and most promising monarch in the three-hundred-year history of the founding of the State of Zhao.
Yet every single success was inevitably tied to his extraordinary, high-intensity self-discipline.
At the same time, his temperament was domineering, arrogant, headstrong, and heavily laden with murderous hostility. Once he locked onto a method, no one could change his mind.
For instance, he forcefully compelled the State of Yue to surrender through wholesale slaughter of the city, leaving a full fifty thousand citizens dead beneath his butcher’s blades, a truly horrific atrocity.
Those who resisted were punished;
Those who defied were killed;
Those who submitted were rewarded.
These twelve short characters, clear-cut in rewards and punishments, formed his philosophy of governance, applied equally and without exception.
Because of all these behaviors, many people behind his back branded him a tyrant.
On the surface, the State of Zhao enjoyed a smooth administration, peace, and prosperity, but in reality, people’s hearts were fragmented and the sovereign and his ministers were at odds. All of this stemmed from his excessively strong desire for control and his refusal to delegate power.
He loved grasping everything firmly in his own hands, which was also a key factor driving him toward a dead end in the subsequent plot progression.
After interacting with him over the past few days, Xiao Quanchuan wasn’t nearly as terrifying as the book described. Since his character setting had shifted somewhat, could the plot trajectory turn out differently as well?
Until things reached that point, Jiang Wangnan had no way of knowing.
He wasn’t going to overthink it. Even if it did happen, he, Jiang Wangnan, would have long since packed up his money and slipped away. Whether Xiao Quanchuan lived or died was none of his concern.
After taking a shallow, half-awake afternoon nap, he changed into the new clothes prepared by Xiao Quanchuan and walked back to Xiying Palace amidst a gentle breeze.
“I’m back!”
Qiu Ruo, Luo Jing, and the others immediately swarmed forward: “Your Grace has returned, Your Grace has returned.” They chirped back and forth like little birds.
With tears in her eyes, Qiu Ruo said: “This outfit looks truly stunning on Your Grace. The Emperor really put thought into caring for Your Grace.”
Luo Jing said excitedly: “Your Grace, hurry inside and take a look! The Emperor has bestowed so many things!”
“Alright, let’s go check it out.”
Qiu Ruo read out the inventory list to him: “Fifty taels of gold, two hundred taels of silver, eleven taels of pearls, a pair of agate bracelets, nineteen bolts of imperial-use Jiang silk, thirteen bolts of premium palace gauze, three jars of snail-shell eyebrow powder, five boxes of gardenia scented powder, five boxes of persimmon frost candy, twelve catties of lotus root starch, four Hami melons, two plates of milk pastry.”
These bountiful rewards were arranged neatly in a row before him, row upon row. Jiang Wangnan’s heart skipped a beat inexplicably, just like receiving a gift from a boyfriend, elated yet nostalgic.
Still, could an emperor fall for someone this quickly?
To grant every favor after serving in bed just once, wasn’t this affection a bit cheap?
It probably wouldn’t last very long either.
Even so, Xiao Quanchuan wasn’t his type, so no matter what, he shouldn’t be moved by him.
Besides, who doesn’t love money? If there are gifts, accept them as they come. This was something he had earned with his body anyway, so he wasn’t running at a loss.
Once he saved up enough money and his rank was high enough, plenty of opportunities to escape would await him, rather than sitting around like now waiting for a chance to pick him.
After concluding morning court and partaking in a meal, Xiao Quanchuan proceeded to the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.
Before his foot even crossed the threshold of the palace, he heard a woman wailing dramatically from the inner room: “Ouch! Ouch! Why has my migraine flared up again? I’m afraid I won’t live to see the Emperor surrounded by children and grandchildren.”
If not for the overwhelming fragrance of wine filling the room, Xiao Quanchuan might have actually believed her nonsense.
“Your son respectfully greets Mother Empress wishing you great peace.”
“The Emperor has arrived.”
Tang Kuilan leaned against the head of the bed, unmade-up, with pale lips and a sickly expression. Putting that aside, her cheeks were full and her skin elastic. Judging by her appearance, she looked more like Xiao Quanchuan’s elder sister, and their facial features bore a slight resemblance.
Following ancestral etiquette and formalities, Xiao Quanchuan strode forward shamelessly and, under the guise of tucking the blanket over her, fished a wine flask straight out of her sleeve, raising an eyebrow.
Then he flipped the quilt back. The entire bed was crowded with transparent glass jars, and inside the jars were writhing, densely packed insects: long ones, short ones, thin ones, round ones, sleeping ones, crawling ones.
Tang Kuilan lost her composure on the spot. From God knows where, she whipped out a sword with a swift swish and pointed it straight at Xiao Quanchuan’s glabella!
She advanced, he retreated. Their martial arts skills were evenly matched. Upon closer inspection, one could notice that six or seven out of ten of their moves were identical, as though they hailed from the same master.
The surrounding servants seemed completely accustomed to the sight, each maintaining a calm expression as they efficiently cleared away tables, chairs, and valuable items in an orderly fashion.
Clang!
The snow-white sword blade was caught securely between Xiao Quanchuan’s two fingers, the sword body humming, unable to be pulled free by its owner.
“Little Aunt, you lost again.” His posture remained as steady as Mount Tai, with only a single strand of dark hair disheveled across his forehead.
Tang Kuilan, addressed as Little Aunt, stomped her foot and glared: “Just you wait! Next time, I will definitely win! Mother Li, put all my treasures away into the cabinet.”
Tang Kuilan excelled in the arts of medicine and venomous insects, so raising bugs on her own was an everyday occurrence.
However, in order to cultivate more and better gu worms, her schedule was turned completely upside down. During her five years as Empress Dowager, she had truly never once woken up early in the morning.
With that, she retrieved another wine flask from her other sleeve, tilted her head back to gulp down the liquor in large swallows, and wiped her mouth directly with the back of her hand.
“I am ready whenever you are. But this illness of yours has dragged on for nearly a year and a half. It’s about time you recovered, isn’t it?”
She knew very well in her heart that Xiao Quanchuan was referring to the resumption of daily consorts’ morning greetings.
She suddenly pressed against her temples and began wailing ouch all over again: “No, no, my migraine is acting up.”
Xiao Quanchuan folded his hands inside his sleeves and watched quietly.
“Enough, what else do you want? You’re the one who refuses to take any imperial consorts, yet I am getting old. In the past, I used to wash your diapers, and now I’m also worrying about your inner palace matters on top of that. What’s wrong with sleeping in a little late?”
“Yet you won’t even grant me this much satisfaction. Wuuu wuuu, my life is so bitter, raising an ungrateful wolf.”
As Tang Kuilan spoke, a centipede-like insect crawled out from the corner of her mouth. With the casual dexterity of picking up a grain of rice, she naturally placed it right back into her palm, beating her chest and wailing through tears and snot.
Indeed, Xiao Quanchuan had been raised by her, though only after he turned fourteen.
Prior to the age of fourteen, Xiao Quanchuan had always stayed beside his biological mother, namely Tang Kuilan’s older sister, the former Empress Tang Xinlan.
An incident had occurred that year, causing Xiao Quanchuan to gradually grow estranged from Tang Xinlan.
At the time, Tang Kuilan was only seventeen and held the title of Consort Lan. The two of them were separated by a mere three years in age, shared common topics, and studied martial arts under the same master. He would cling to her side every single day, refusing to return home even if beaten to death.
Later, on the day of Xiao Quanchuan’s enthronement ceremony, Tang Xinlan went to Pingxi Temple outside the suburbs of the capital, shaved her hair to become a nun, and remained detached from worldly affairs ever since.
Mother and son had never interacted in daily life from that day onward, practically severing all ties.
When conferring the title of Empress Dowager, Xiao Quanchuan omitted Tang Xinlan entirely, directly recognizing Tang Kuilan as his mother. Many court officials raised objections, arguing that the move was improper, but he batted down every single objection until not a murmur of dissent remained.
“By the way, I heard that you favored that Crown Prince of Yue last night? And even promoted him to Noble Consort?” Tang Kuilan suddenly brought it up.
“Mhm, his name is Jiang Wangnan.”
“Oh my, not bad at all. First time, huh? How did it feel?” For some reason, her smile made one’s spine crawl.
Xiao Quanchuan replied: “If Little Aunt has something to say, feel free to speak plainly.”